Name that Caption

Who knew a simple colander could bring so much amusement into our house?

Refrigerator repairman

"For the love of God do I have to get my own diapers around this house? Sheesh!"


In actuality Gus discovered he could open and close the dresser drawer tonight. Owen was so excited at his brother's discovery that he pulled himself up to Gus at the expense of Gus's diaper.

Reminds you of the SNL skit with Dan Ackroyd coming to fix the refrigerator with some sizable crack showing. Cheers!

To Do Lists

These past two days have comprised one of the busiest weekends Amy & I have had since becoming parents. We are heading out of town next weekend and had to cram like college students in order to get things done before we leave. Like classic ISFJ's, we sat down on Friday and made our list of things to do. While we didn't get to eveything on the list, we did get a lot accomplished.

Saturday

• Devised a plan at 5:00am for neighbors' barking dog to sleep with the fishes
• Got the car serviced
• Boosted Target stock price by 10% with the Rutledge bi-weekly shopping spree
• Racing an impending thunderstorm, got three inches of pollen washed off the car and the yard mowed
• Helped our buddy Mike transport a chair to Chapel Hill
• Gave the boys their first snare drum solo
• Took the boys out to eat for the second successful time
• Watched our Hurricanes get clubbed by the Canadiens 6-1
• Bathed the monsters
• Walked Tucker & his pals Digby & MacKay before the dog sleepover at our house
• Sank into the couch & chair fast asleep

Sunday

• Amy walked the boys to church while I went early to prepare for the drum/piano duet that will no doubt be reviewed in your local paper tomorrow
• Fed the boys -- Owen yakked -- bath #2
• Checked on the pups next door -- ear rubbing breaks good for them and us
• Amy's grocery store run with the boys
• Derek vs. the bathroom tile floor (I'm ripping out the tile floor so our neighbor Viktor can put in a new floor for us while we're gone next week). Hour 1 begins...
• Dust & flying tiles 1, Derek 0 -- trip to Ace Hardware for goggles and face masks
• Ventured back to church for a welcome back ceremony for our pastor Joanne (Joanne 1, breast cancer 0 -- woohooo!)
• Clean up boys, bedtime stories, & put the boys down
• Tucker and his daily camina
• Pop open the bottle of pinot grigio on a gorgeous spring evening, post to the blog
• Exhale

We'll get to the rest of the list later. Have a good week -- cheers!

One Notch on the Belt

Year One has come and gone since the boys were born. Some days it seems like just yesterday that we were headed to the hospital at nearly thirty-three weeks, convinced of a false alarm. And other days April 15, 2005 seems like a long time ago. So many new changes have taken place since then that it seems like a longer time than it truly has been.

Parenthood is such a unique journey. You can't prepare for it. Amy & I quickly realized that we had a lot to learn about raising two little boys. But we also learned that in so many situations there isn't a right or wrong way -- just whatever it takes to get through it.

The first night we brought the boys home we were not putting their diapers on tight enough, and we had to change them and their crib sheets half a dozen times before morning. Buying a vehicle with two screaming boys -- one exploding with poop -- holed up in a tiny financing office was a memorable experience. Starting an argument at 3:00am with your wife because there is not a pacifier to be found or chucking a tennis shoe at your husband because you are both so tired you can't see straight. There were certainly moments that test a parent's will.

But all of those are forgotten in an instant when little Owen goes into a gut-wrenching laughing fit as you kiss his belly. Or when Gus gets so excited standing up in his crib for the first time. Or when the two boys explode in laughter as they experience a bubble bath for the first time.

The little monsters are our pride and joy. We can't wait for what Year Two will bring us.

Cheers!

Recovery

As Derek mentioned, we all had a great time seeing the grandparents last weekend and celebrating some early birthdays. The boys soaked in so much attention they've been recovering the last few days.



Relaxing on the hammock


Strolling incognito


Sleeping through breakfast

A grand birthday weekend

The grandparents journeyed to North Cackalackee last weekend to celebrate Owen & Gus's first birthday. The weekend started off a little rough as Owen came down with a nasty fever and cold. But he recuperated by the end of the weekend and in time to enjoy a little cake. The boys took in all the attention they could muster. Amy & I enjoyed having eight willing helping hands with the boys (and we even got to have dinner out with our neighbors Chad & Claudia one night -- a rarity indeed!). We capped off the weekend with a low-key birthday party complete with eastern NC barbecue and a homemade birthday cake on Saturday and the boys being dedicated at church on Sunday. A grand time was had by all.


Ma the cakemaker prepares her puppy dog masterpiece.

The boys' first birthday cake.




The mad hatter prepares for the celebration.

Owen 1, cake 0.

"Over here please -- this one is out of that tasty icing on top. Chop, chop."




Present time complete with outfits, swimming trunks, books, baseball cards & birthday cards to chew on.



Owen is captivated by Granddaddy's reading of the fruit book.



Gus takes in lessons on how to watch the Masters from his two grandfathers. It's an art form, young man -- you'll learn.




Owen was quite at home strolling with his Nana to help him forget his crummy fever.




Never one to be left out, Tucker inserts himself into reading time with some helpful licks.



Gus shows GJ and Pappy the art of table surfing.

Touchdown

We celebrate small milestones these days. Owen learned to clap his hands this week. Gus stood up in his crib for the first time yesterday. Today, Gus displayed his future love of vegging out in front of the TV and watching football.

Spring scenes

Ants have invaded the casa de Rutledge this past week. With the extremely mild winter we had, the ants have been out in full force this spring. We broke out the cinnamon, the Combat traps, and ultimately the Raid. Rutledges 1, Ants 0.





It was nice knowing you little fellow.




Outdoors the colors have returned...




...and a lizard takes in a window sill.

Simple toys

Pans have emerged as a simple pleasure. They're shiny, they bang, and they taste good.













Gus skipped his introductory lesson on chord progressions and went straight to his Hendrix impersonation. He's quite the little Voodoo Chile.

Recess

President Bush was at an elementary school talking to the schoolchildren and decided to take some questions from the class. Little Johnny raised his hand.

"Mr. President, I have two questions. First, why did you invade Iraq when there were no weapons of mass destruction and didn't have UN support? And second, how come you are President when Al Gore got more votes than you did in 2000?"

At that moment the recess bell rang & Bush responded, "Ok class, we will finish the questions after recess."

The kids went outside and played, then returned to the class for more time with President Bush.

Little Bobby raised his hand. "Mr. President, I have four questions. First, why did you invade Iraq when there were no weapons of mass destruction and didn't have UN support? Second, how come you are President when Al Gore got more votes than you did in 2000? Third, why did our recess bell ring 30 minutes early today. And fourth, where's Johnny?"

Politico Friday: Wafa Sultan

I saw this lady interviewed on CNN recently. She drew a lot of attention a month ago for a debate she had with a Muslim cleric on Al-Jazeera essentially about moderate Islam vs. fundamentalist Islam. Granted this clip only shows the arguments she made in the debate, some of her points transcend all religions as they deal with fundamentalism.

Why America doesn't have these sort of relevant discussions on television rather than the Sean Hannity's of the world, shark attacks, and runaway brides is disappointing, but it's good to know the discussions are taking place somewhere.

Hat tip to C.E. for the video link.

Wafa Sultan on Al-Jazeera

The State of Hoops in Hoosierland

Pat Forde, former UK beat writer for the Courier-Journal, has a terrific article out on ESPN.com about basketball at all levels in the state of Indiana. With IU hiring Kelvin Sampson from Oklahoma yesterday some Hoosier fans have bemoaned both the hire and the overall state of basketball in the most hoops-crazed state in the country. Although I don't think it's fair to write off Sampson a day after he's hired, criticism of the decline of high school basketball's popularity -- part of the social fabric in Indiana -- seems fair as high school basketball is not nearly as meaningful as it used to be. I've heard my friend & Indiana native Brian Wise make many of these same points and comments that Forde makes.

Sometimes it's hard for things to go back to the way they were. A good read nonetheless.

If you understand all that, if you grasp the folklore and the sport's place in society, you can understand what the state tournament used to be. For that, take a drive through the rolling hills of Southern Indiana.

On Indiana Highway 37 you'll see a sign outside Mitchell, pop. 5,000. It commemorates the 1940 state tournament runner-up, the Mitchell High Bluejackets.

Not the champions. The runners-up. From 66 years ago.

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Understand that Indiana is home to 19 of the 20 largest high school gyms in America, topped by New Castle High, Alford's alma mater, at 9,325 seats. Understand that the Indiana State Library's Web site lists no fewer than 33 books on its shelves relating to high school basketball, including, "Somebody Stole the Pea Out of My Whistle: The Golden Age of Hoosier Basketball Referees." Understand that if there were such a thing as a state sound, in Indiana it would be a basketball slapping off a wood floor in an empty gym.

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"For smaller schools, the state championships were the sectionals," Bailey said. "If you could come through the sectional and win it, you had that one great weekend of games to remember."

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There would be no Milan [the school "Hoosiers" is based upon] miracle under the current format. Nothing to talk about for the next 50 years. "Since they went to class basketball, Milan has been to the semistate twice, and nobody knows it," Plump said. "That gives you the idea that people don't care. The sectional winners in the old days will be remembered a long time after the four state champions are remembered.

"When you can play, you want to play against the big boys. You might get your brains beat out, but it won't be the last time that happens in life."

Basketball in this state is getting its brains beat out on every level these days. For the good of the game and the good of the people who love it more than anywhere else, that needs to change.

After all, in 49 states it's just basketball. But this is Indiana.

The Joy of Elmo

Amy recently came home with a singing Elmo doll. Chalk this up as #927 on the list things I said I'd never do but have since reconsidered after having kids.

For a goofy singing Sesame Street character, Elmo has been a HUGE hit in our house. I don't know what it is, but something about Elmo resonates with the kids. Owen beams from ear to ear, closing his eyes and laughing every time we hit the button to make Elmo sing & dance. Gus doesn't get quite the kick out of it that Owen does, but he is still a fan.

I just hope Amy & I don't cave and get a talking Barney in the house someday. ;-)





One happy Elmo-loving little character right here.

Final Four

March Madness 2006 has been a very interesting basketball tournament for basketball junkies like me. Granted this year has been a little different from years past -- both with Kentucky getting its lowest seed in nearly two decades and with multi-tasking skills in changing diapers while simultaneously watching the games. Still, the games have been incredible and for the first time in 25+ years there are no #1 seeds in the final four.

In the past the opening Friday of the tournament was marked by a vacation day from work and inviting friends over to watch hoops from noon til midnight. This year we continued the tradition on opening Friday -- albeit without the vacation day -- with our friends Mike & Jean Mankowski and their ten-week old daughter Ella. Mike is a diehard Tar Heel, and Jean is a lifelong Duke fan. If Ella grows up to cheer for NC State, then their family may end up not speaking to each other for the month of March. It was a splendid evening of catching up, both on the changes that have happened to us all in the past year and on watching hoops.

This past weekend Amy & I ventured to Charleston to see Melanie and Roman. Roman was impressed with Glen "Big Baby" Davis, the 310 lb. immovable object for LSU. We got back just in time on Sunday to watch 11th seeded George Mason slide on the Cinderella slipper beating uber-talented yet underachieving top-seeded Connecticut. All in all it has been a tremendous tournament.

One more weekend Amy B -- then you're in the clear until October.



Ella shows off her Tar Heel attire -- shirt and socks -- to the delight of her dad.




Papa Mankowski & baby Ella.




The Mankowski family.

Beachin' It

For the boys' first trip to the Palmetto State we ventured down to the beach on a cool spring day. It was hard to say who enjoyed it more -- Owen & Gus for playing in the sand, Mom or Dad taking dozens of pictures, or Tucker who released months of couped up energy by bounding down the beach through the water. A fun time indeed.

Charleston

Scenes from the Rutledge clan's venture down to Charleston to see Aunt Mel, Uncle Dude, Chloe, Tera, & Mona.


Owen lets Aunt Mel know the handoff was too quick.




Gus finds simple happiness in the seat of a chair.




Little Owen does his best JoJo impersonation, seated at his command post.




Gus gets a Chloe kiss.



Uncle Dude & Owen perform a duet.



Mona leaves us a present by the door.

Leprechaun

I love the amateur sketch.

Leprechaun sighting


Hat tip to our pal Gretchen for passing along this gem.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May the leprechauns be kind to you.

Swingin'

Amy sent me pictures today of her trip with the boys to the park to ride on the swings. Apparently the swings were a big hit.







And this is our third child, Stu. We haven't said much about him up until now, but he's around. Say hello to Stu everybody.

Update (3/17): My mistake. Apparently we do not have a third child -- it just feels like it some days. And he is not Stu either -- he is Braden Parks, son of Amy's friend Stephanie and her husband Brian.

March Madness

The NCAA tournament is finally here. It is my favorite time of year as a sports fan. Normally I take off work on the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament to watch the games. Unfortunately I won't be able to do that this year, but I will be sneaking into the breakroom at work to sneak a peak at the games for sure.

Instead of marching into the tournament on a wave of optimism and confidence like the past few years, my beloved Wildcats are limping into the tournament as a team of underachievers this year with an #8 seed and a nearly impossible task of toppling #1 Connecticut in the second round.....should the Cats even make it to the second round.

This year has been a full season of Kentucky trying to find itself, trying to establish its identity. UK is better with the return of Randolph Morris, but there are still glaring holes on offense and way too many lapses on defense.

This has been a year of confusion for UK fans on Kronos Lane and everywhere in Big Blue land. The UK flag is no longer flown on gamedays at our house as it has repeatedly jinxed the Cats to several losses. The boys no longer wear their UK outfits during games since the loss to the Tar Heels in December obviously had a negative effect on the team. Amy & I still have not found the magical seats in our house where we watch the game. So in fairness to the Cats, the Rutledges have not helped out the situation by constantly changing up their gameday routine.

But I am excited nonetheless for the tournament. In reality I would be pleased with a victory over the UAB team that ousted UK two years ago when Kentucky was a #1 seed (which remains the most devastating loss since the Duke/Laettner game in 1992) followed by a strong showing against #1 Connecticut. I don't expect too much more from Kentucky this year.

And I'm also excited because despite the number of fans here who don't recognize basketball outside the North Carolina/Duke/NC State/ACC realm, the Triangle truly is a haven for college basketball fans. The workplace empties out on gameday as bars fill up with hoops fans. Kids watch the tournament in school. The cashier at the cafeteria today asked me to go run off a copy of the brackets for her so she could fill in her picks....while people waited in line to pay for their food. College basketball is part of the culture here.

It's my favorite time of year.

BTW, I started a bracket pool for anyone that wants to submit their picks. Shoot me an email if you did not get a link and want to join in -- the more, the merrier. Cheers!